Razor cartridge and adapter assembly

ABSTRACT

A razor cartridge assembly comprising in combination a razor cartridge and an adapter for affixing the cartridge to a razor handle. The cartridge includes plastic platform and cap members joined together with blade means disposed therebetween. A pair of rails extend from the platform and form opposed parallel grooves. The adapter comprises a grip portion and a sabre portion extending from the grip portion. The sabre portion comprises compressible wire-like means disposed in said cartridge grooves. The sabre portion is adapted to be inserted between rails of a cartridge type razor handle whereby to slide the razor cartridge onto the razor handle.

Gray

[ Mar. 4, 1975 [75] Inventor' Michael Gray Duxbury Mass Attorney, Agent,or Firm-Richard A. Wise; Oistein J. [73] Assignee: The Gillette Company,Boston, Bratlie; Scott R. Foster Mass.

22 Filed: Jan. 30, 1974 7] ABSTRACT [21] Appl 437,733 A razor cartridgeassembly comprising in combination a razor cartridge and an adapter foraffixing the car- Relaled Application Data tridge to a razor handle Thecartridge includes plastic [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 294.482. Oct.2. 1972, platform and cap members joined together with bladeflbflndvncdmeans disposed therebetween. A pair of rails extend from theplatform and form opposed parallel grooves. [52] Cl 30/34 R, 30/47,30/90 The adapter comprises a grip portion and a sabre por- [51] In. Cl.1326b 21/40 tion extending from the grip portion, The sabre por- Fieldof Search 30/40, tion comprises compressible wire-like means disposed30/90 in said cartridge grooves. The sabre portion is adapted to beinserted between rails of a cartridge type razor v [56] References Citedhandle whereby to slide the razor cartridge onto the UNITED STATESPATENTS razor n 9 Claims Drawing Figures 3,785,051 3/1972 Dawidowicz30/402 RAZOR CARTRIDGE AND ADAPTER ASSEMBLY Primary Eramt'new-AlLawrence Smith Assistant E.\aminer-Gary L. Smith RAZOR CARTRIDGE ANDADAPTER ASSEMBLY CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This is acontinuation of application filed Oct. 2, 1972, under Ser. No. 294,482and now abandoned in the name of MICHAEL J. GRAY.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to cartridge type shaving systems and is directed moreparticularly to a cartridge assembly including means for mounting arazor cartridge and for affixing the cartridge to a razor handle.

2. Description of the Prior Art Razor blade units of the type shown anddescribed in U.S. pat. application Ser. No. 124,068, filed Mar. 15, 1971now U.S. Pat. No. 3,724,070 in the name of Francis W. Dorion, .Ir. arenow widely used in conjunction with razor handles of the type shown anddescribed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 207,357, filed Dec. 13,1971, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,768,162 in the name of Roger L. Perry. Thehandle is provided at one end with a pair of rails which slidinglyreceive the cartridge.

The cartridges are generally available in packages which contain aplurality of the cartridges and serve as dispensers therefor. U.S.patent application Ser. No. 212,352, filed Dec. 27, 1971, now U.S. Pat.No. 3,835,5 32 in the name of Richard J. Petrillo illustrates apackage-dispenser of this sort.

There is a need, however, for a device permitting sale and use of suchcartridges one at a time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of the invention toprovide a cartridge assembly including means for mounting a single razorcartridge and for affixing the cartridge to a razor handle when desired.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, afeature of the present invention is the provision of a razor cartridgeassembly including an adapter comprising a grip portion and a sabreportion extending therefrom. The sabre portion comprises a pair ofwires, or the like, having a wavy configuration and adapted to engagethe slide portion of a razor cartridge for retaining the cartridgethereon. The sabre portion is further adapted to engage the railsportion of a handle whereby to slidingly dispose the cartridge on therails of the handle.

The above and other features of the invention, including various noveldetails of construction and combinations of parts, will now be moreparticularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings andpointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particularrazor cartridge adapter embodying the invention is shown by way ofillustration only and not as a limitation of the invention. Theprinciples and features of this invention may be employed in various andnumerous embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Reference is made to the accompanyingdrawings in which is shown an illustrative embodiment of the inventionfrom which its novel features and advantages will be apparent.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one form of adapter portion of anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the adapter portion; FIG. 3 is an edgeview of the adapter portion;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of a razor cartridge assembly illustrativeof an embodiment of the invention and including the adapter portion ofFIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view, similar to FIG. 4, but showing the adapterportion being inserted between the rails of a razor handle;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view, similar to FIG. 5, but showing the adapterportion extending further between the rails;

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view, similar to FIG. 6, but showing the adapterportion fully inserted into the handle rails and the cartridge inoperative position on the rails;

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view, similar to FIG. 7,but showing theadapterportion being withdrawn from the razor handle; and

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view, similar to FIG. 8, but showing the adapterportion further withdrawn from the razor handle; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the adapter portion fullywithdrawn from the handle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. l-3, it willbe seen that the adapter portion of the present invention comprises agrip portion 2 which may be provided with recesses 4, 6 and lugs 8, 10on either side thereof to facilitate handling by an operator.

Extending from the grip portion 2 is a sabre portion 20 including a pairof wire-like members 22, 24 having a wavy or sinuous formation, wherebyto present compressible expanded portions 26. At their ends remote fromgrip portion 2, the wires 22, 24 are joined to form nose portion 28.

In FIG. 4 there is shown a cartridge 30 disposed on the sabre portion 20of the adapter 2. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 10, it will be seen that thecartridge 30 comprises a plastic platform member 32 fastened to aplastic cap member 34 with blade means 36 sandwiched therebetween. Theplatform member 32 is provided with a guard portion 38.

The cartridge 30 is also provided with a pair of elongated paralleldownwardly extending walls 40 having inturned flanges 42 at their freeedges to form opposed parallel grooves 44.

The grooves 44 receive the expanded portion 26 of the sabre portion 20(FIG. 4) and the cartridge 30 is retained on the adapter 2 by the leafspring action of the wires 22, 24.

In FIGS. 4 and 10, there is also shown a razor handle 50 adapted toreceive and retain the cartridge 30. The handle 50 includes a gripportion 52 and a head portion 54. The head portion 54 includes a pair ofelongated parallel rails 56, adapted to slidingly enter the grooves 44of the cartridge 30.

Referring to FIG. 5, it will be seen that in operation an operatorinserts the nose portion 28 between the rails 56 of the handle 50. Asthe sabre portion 20 of the actuator enters the razor head 54,. therails 56 enter the grooves 44 of the cartridge 30. Further insertion ofthe sabre portion 20 into the razor head 54 (FIG. 6) causes the rails 56to compress the expanded portions 26 of the sabre so that as thecartridge slides along the outside of the rails, the sabre portion 20 iscompressed between the rails. When the adapter is fully inserted in therazor head (FIG. 7) the cartridge grooves 44 are filled by the rails 56and the sabre portion 20 is compressed between the rails.

Thus, the adapter may then be withdrawn from the razor head withoutdisturbing the cartridge (FIGS. 8-10).

It isto be understood that the present invention is by no means limitedto the particular construction herein disclosed and/or shown in thedrawings, but also comprises any modifications or equivalents within thescope of the disclosure.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A razor cartridge assembly comprising, in combination, a razorcartridge and an adapter, said razor cartridge comprising a rigidplatform member, a rigid cap member joined to said platform member,blade means fixedly disposed between said platform member and said capmember, a pair of elongated parallel rails extending from said cartridgeand having inturned flanges at their free edges to form opposed parallelgrooves, said adapter comprising a grip portion and a sabre portionextending from said grip portion, said sabre portion in its substantialentirety consisting of compressible wire-like means in engagement withinterior portions of said parallel grooves, said cartridge beingsupported solely by said wire-like means.

2. The invention according to claim 1 in which said wire-like means hasa wavy formation.

3. The invention according to claim 1 in which said wire-like meanscomprises a pair of wire-like members.

4. The invention according to claim 3 in which said wire-like membersare connected at their ends remote from said grip portion.

5. The invention according to claim 2 in which said wire-like meanscomprises a pair of wire-like members, at least one of said membershaving a wavy formation.

6. The invention according to claim 2 in which said wire-like meanscomprises a pair of wire-like members, said members each having a wavyformation.

7. The invention according to claim 6 in which said wire-like membersare connected at their ends remote from said grip portion.

8. A razor cartridge assembly comprising, in combination, a razorcartridge and an adapter, said razor cartridge comprising a plasticplatform member, a plastic cap member joined to said platform member,blade means disposed between said platform member and .said cap member,a pair of elongated parallel rails extending from said cartridge andhaving inturned flanges at their free edges to form opposed parallelgrooves, said adapter comprising a grip portion and a sabre portionextending from said grip portion, said sabre portion comprising a pairof compressible wire-like members joined at their ends remote from saidgrip portion, said sabre portion being in engagement with interiorportions of said parallel grooves.

9. The invention according to claim 8 in which-said wire-like memberseach have a wavy formation.

1. A razor cartridge assembly comprising, in combination, a ragorcartridge and an adapter, said razor cartridge comprising a rigidplatform member, a rigid cap member joined to said platform member,blade means fixedly disposed between said platform member and said capmember, a pair of elongated parallel rails extending from said cartridgeand having inturned flanges at their free edges to form opposed parallelgrooves, said adapter comprising a grip portion and a sabre portionextending from said grip portion, said sabre portion in its substantialentirety consisting of compressible wire-like means in engagement withinterior portions of said parallel grooves, said cartridge beingsupported solely by said wire-like means.
 2. The invention according toclaim 1 in which said wire-like means has a wavy formation.
 3. Theinvention according to claim 1 in which said wire-like means comprises apair of wire-like members.
 4. The invention according to claim 3 inwhich said wire-like members are connected at their ends remote fromsaid grip portion.
 5. The invention according to claim 2 in which saidwire-like means comprises a pair of wire-like members, at least one ofsaid members having a wavy formation.
 6. The invention according toclaim 2 in which said wire-like means comprises a pair of wire-likemembers, said members each having a wavy formation.
 7. The inventionaccording to claim 6 in which said wire-like members are connected attheir ends remote from said grip portion.
 8. A razor cartridge assemblycomprising, in combination, a razor cartridge and an adapter, said razorcartridge comprising a plastic platform member, a plastic cap memberjoined to said platform member, blade means disposed between saidplatform member and said cap member, a pair of elongated parallel railsextending from said cartridge and having inturned flanges at their freeedges to form opposed parallel grooves, said adapter comprising a gripportion and a sabre portion extending from said grip portion, said sabreportion comprising a pair of compressible wire-like members joined attheir ends remote from said grip portion, said sabre portion being inengagement with interior portions of said parallel grooves.
 9. Theinvention according to claim 8 in which said wire-like members each havea wavy formation.